Apparatus for releasing tablets from a blister pack

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for releasing tablets from a blister pack ( 34 ) containing a plurality of tablets, each held in a respective blister, the apparatus comprising receiving means ( 1 ) for receiving the blister pack so that the pack is moveable on the receiving means ( 1 ), and an abutment member ( 32 ) moveable into engagement with the blister in registry therewith so as to eject the tablet from that blister, wherein the apparatus includes indexing means ( 28, 30 ) for moving a blister pack ( 34 ) on the receiving means ( 1 ) to bring each of a succession of blisters in turn into registry with the abutment member ( 32 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for releasing tablets from a blisterpack containing a plurality of tablets, each held in a respectiveblister.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is common for a medicament supplied in tablet form to be packaged ina blister pack. Such a pack typically comprises an upper sheet of a semirigid plastics material in which the blisters are formed, and a lowersheet of sealing foil which closes the blisters. In order to eject atablet from a blister, the pack has to be held with the underside of theblister spaced from any supporting surface, and a collapsing force needsto be exerted on the blister. If such force is sufficiently large, itwill cause the portion of the foil sealing the blister to rupture, thusreleasing the tablet.

Although an able bodied person can easily release a blister from thepack without further assistance, a person of reduced manual dexteritycan have difficulty exerting a sufficient collapsing force on a blisterwhile holding the blister pack in the correct positions.

EP-A-0759403 shows a tablet dispenser having a tray for holding ablister pack and a lid in which a number of buttons, each connectedthrough a respective plunger, are provided. Each plunger overliesrespective blister so that, when the associated button is pushed, atablet is ejected from that blister by the plunger. Since the number ofbuttons has to correspond to the number of blisters in a pack, thebuttons are small and therefore difficult to use.

EP 0547426A shows a tray like container having a lid which is providedwith a single plunger slidable along a race so that it can move intoengagement with any selected one of the blisters in a pack held in thetray. However, the top of the plunger is still relatively small, and hasto be moved manually into registry with each blister in turn, acharacteristic which can make the device awkward to use if the userforgets or whether the plunger has been moved into registry with thenext blister (after the last operation of the device).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for releasingtablets from a blister pack containing a plurality of tablets, each heldin a respective blister, the apparatus comprising receiving means forreceiving the blister pack so that the pack is moveable on the receivingmeans, and an abutment member moveable into engagement with the blisterin registry therewith so as to eject a tablet from that blister, whereinthe apparatus includes indexing means for moving a blister pack on thereceiving means to bring each of a succession of blisters in turn intoregistry with the ejection member.

Preferably, the apparatus includes an actuating member, so linked to theindexing means and the abutment member as to operate both, preferably bymoving the actuating member through a single operating stroke.

Since the whole of the blister pack is moved by the indexing means, eachblister can be more easily aligned with the abutment member than wouldbe the case if the latter had to be moved into registry with eachblister in turn. In addition, by linking the indexing means and abutmentmember to a common actuating member, it is possible for the action ofejecting a pill using the apparatus also to result in the blister packbeing indexed along the receiving means so that the next full blister isin registry with the abutment member.

Preferably, the actuating member is pivotally mounted on the receivingmeans, the abutment member forming part of, or being mounted on, theactuating member.

The indexing means made to advantage comprise a rod pivotally attachedto the actuating member, wherein, in use, a succession of operatingstrokes of the actuating member causes the rod to engage the blisterpack at each of a succession of positions along its length to move theblister pack along the receiving means in a step wise fashion.

Preferably, the rod has a cross piece at the end remote from theconnection to the actuating member to enable the rod to engage a pair ofcorresponding blisters into parallel rows so the blister packsimultaneously. This feature helps to ensure that the indexing meansexerts a linear force on the blister pack.

Preferably, the receiving means comprises a tray having an end openingthrough which, in use, a blister pack is advanced in a step wise fashionby the indexing means. Preferably, the tray includes further openingthrough which a blister pack may be inserted into the tray. The tray mayto advantage be flared at the further opening to facilitate insertion ofa blister pack.

The actuating member preferably comprises a lid for the tray, so thatopening and closing the lid both ejects tablets and operates theindexing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of apparatus in accordance with theinvention, the apparatus being shown in a partially open condition;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the apparatus when in a condition asshown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 9 are views corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing theapparatus at a number of different stages in a single cycle ofoperation;

Each of FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 10 is a sectional side view, corresponding toFIG. 1, of the apparatus at the stages of operation shown respectivelyin FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are isometric views of the apparatus from differentangles from FIG. 1, when in a condition as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus in accordance with theinvention comprises a lower elongate tray 1 which is open at its twoends 2 and 4, the floor 3, of which has a pair of parallel guidechannels 6 and 8 running along its length. The tray 1 includes anaperture 10 towards one end of the channel 8, and has a base 12 which isintegrally formed with the rest of the tray and which is spaced from thesurfacing which the channel 6 and 8 are formed to define a closed bottomchannel 14 extending along the length of tray 1. An outlet opening 16 isprovided at the rear of the channel 14 and is bounded on one side by apart circular lip 18. The side walls of the tray 1 include a pair offlared extensions 20 and 22 (FIG. 3) which flank the rear opening 4. Alid 24 is pivotally attached to the rear of the tray 20 for pivotalmovement around a horizontal axis, and carries a spindle 26 pivotallymounted partway along its length. A T-shaped pusher member comprising arod 28 and a horizontal end cross piece 30 extends from the spindle 26.

The lid 24 is pivotally connected to the tray 1 at pivot 25, whilst thepivotal connection of the spindle 26 is shown at 27.

The underside of the lid 24 is provided with an integral cylindricalabutment 32.

In the embodiment of apparatus shown in the Figures, a location tab 31extends from one side of the floor 3 of the tray 1 in a position spacedslightly from the floor so that the edge of the blister pack extendsthrough the gap between the tab 31 and the floor of the tray. In use,the tab 31 helps to locate the blister pack and to prevent flexingand/or curling of the latter.

With reference to FIG. 10 the apparatus also includes a pair of pawls100 and 102 which are integrally formed with the side of the tray 1opposite the tab 31. The pawls 100 and 102 are also spaced from thefloor of the tray so as to define corresponding gaps through which theadjacent edge of the blister pack passes. Each pawl extends from itsinboard end (at which it is joined to the tray) in the direction of theindexing motion of the blister pack and towards the centre of the tray.The pawls are resilient and are so shaped as to engage blisters in sucha way that the pawls flex to allow indexing of the pack, but engagebehind blisters to prevent movement of the latter in the oppositedirection.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

A blister pack 34 having two parallel rows of aligned blisters (eachblister containing respective tablet) can be inserted through theopening 4. The flared extensions 20 and 22 facilitate the insertion ofthe blister pack 34. The pack 34 is slid along the tray 1 (with the lid24 held in the position shown in FIG. 1) until the cross piece 30engages the front of the first pair of blisters 36 and 38 arranged onein each row. Further movement of the pack 34 along the tray 1 causes therod 28 to pivot in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2 so that thecross piece 30 can ride up over, and engage the trailing side of, theblisters 36 and 38 this position of the cross piece 30 relative to theblister pack 34 is as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the lid 24 is then pivoted about the pivot 25 towards aclosed position, causing the spindle 26 to travel in an arc towards theblister pack 34. This causes the rod 28 to transmit a horizontalmovement to the cross piece 30 causing the latter to push the blisterpack 34 forward until the blister 38 is in registry with the opening 10and hence the abutment 32. As this happens, each of the pawls 100 and102 rides over a respective blister further back in the pack. As can beseen from FIG. 4, the abutment 32 engages the blister 38, so thatfurther downward pressure on the lid 24 can, if sufficient, fully closethe lid 24, hence causing the abutment 32 to exert a sufficientcollapsing force on the blister 38 to rupture the foil seal under theblister and cause the associated tablet (referenced, 40) to be expelledthrough the opening 10. It will be appreciated that, since the spindle26 moves through an arc, movement of the lid from the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will cause asmall, predominantly vertical, movement of the spindle 26, and so willnot result in the rod 28 and cross piece 30 pushing the blister packfurther forward by any substantial distance.

The tablet 40 released from the blister 38 falls through the opening 10into the channel 14. If the lid 24 is then moved back towards its openposition this causes the cross piece 38 to ride up over the next pair ofblisters 42 and 44 and then engage behind the rear of that pair as shownin FIGS. 9 and 10. As this happens, rearward movement of the pack isprevented by the pawls 100 and 102. This corresponds to the startingposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that movement of the lid 24 backtowards the closed position will cause the tablet in the blister 44 tobe moved into registry with the opening 10 and then to be expelled intothe channel 14 by the abutment 32.

Tablets, such as tablet 40, released into the channel 14, can beretrieved simply by tilting the tray backwards so that the tablet fallsthrough the rear opening 16 to rest against the rear wall 18, from whichposition the tablet may be picked up by the user or tipped into theusers palm.

Once all the blisters in the row over the channel 8 have been emptied,the pack can be removed re-orientated and re-inserted into the device,with the remaining full blisters over the channel 8 and the row of emptyblisters over the channel 6.

The above described method of inserting the blister pack is not the onlyway of loading the apparatus. Alternatively, the blister pack may beinserted with the lid 24 held shut until the forward blisters engage thecross piece 30. The lid 24 is then opened and closed to index the packforward into the position shown in FIG. 4.

1. Apparatus for releasing tablets from a blister pack containing aplurality of tablets, each held in a respective blister, the apparatuscomprising receiving means for receiving the blister so that the pack ismoveable on the receiving means, and an abutment member moveable intoengagement with the blister in registry therewith so as to eject atablet from that blister, wherein the apparatus includes indexing meansfor moving a blister pack on the receiving means to bring each of asuccession of blisters in turn into registry with the abutment member.2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes anactuating member, so linked to the indexing means and the abutmentmember as to operate both.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe actuating member is so linked to the indexing means and the abutmentmember as to operate both by moving the actuating member through asingle operating stroke.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theactuating member is pivotally mounted on the receiving means, theabutment member forming part of, or being mounted on, the actuatingmember.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the indexing meanscomprises a rod pivotally attached to the actuating member, such that,in use, a succession of operating strokes of the actuating member causesthe rod to engage the blister pack at each of a succession of positionsalong its length to move the blister pack along the receiving means in astep-wise fashion.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rodhas a cross-piece at the end remote from the connection to the actuatingmember to enable the rod to engage a pair of corresponding blisters inparallel rows so as to eject two pills from the blister packsimultaneously.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receivingmeans comprises a tray having an end opening through which, in use, ablister pack is advanced in a step-wise fashion by the indexing means.8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tray includes a furtheropening through which a blister pack may be inserted into the tray. 9.Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tray is flared at thefurther opening to facilitate insertion of a blister pack.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the actuating member comprises a lid forthe tray, so that opening and closing of the lid both ejects tablets andoperates the indexing means.